Request

Learn

To offer you better service, we are moving to a new mobile app. Projected launch for the new mobile app is March 2018. You can still connect with us on our mobile friendly site, smcl.org. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Maniac Magee

A Novel

After his parents die, Jeffrey Lionel Magee's life becomes legendary, as he accomplishes athletic and other feats which awe his contemporaries.From the Publisher: He wasn't born with the name Maniac Magee. He came into this world named Jeffrey Lionel Magee, but when his parents died and his life changed, so did his name. And Maniac Magee became a legend. Even today kids talk about how fast he could run; about how he hit an inside-the-park "frog" homer; how no knot, no matter how snarled, would stay that way once he began to untie it. But the thing Maniac Magee is best known for is what he did for the kids from the East Side and those from the West Side.

Related Resources

Opinion

From the critics

Community Activity

Comment

Nostalgia is an interesting thing. One looks back at one's childhood, and remembers everything (or at least most things) with fondness, and glosses over the not-so-pleasant things. And so it is with books that one read as a child. One remembers them as fun, and exciting, and funny, when in reality they may not have been that great. At least, that's the best reason I can think of for so many five-star reviews of this particular book.
Maniac Magee is a decent grade school-level book. It has some funny moments - but they're not *that* funny. It makes some statements about racial prejudice, and about poverty, but it doesn't make them very strongly. Maniac Magee himself is a decent kid, and he usually does the right thing, but as a protagonist in a work of fiction he's pretty weak - there's no strong moral code, no reason behind why he does what he does.
For the sake of full disclosure, this book came out well after I was in grade school. Would I have liked it as a child? Possibly. Would I be rating it higher than average if I had? Most likely. But as an adult reading it well past childhood, I'm not thrilled by it.

I read this book as a child and recently revisited it with my 4th grade students. It is an amazing book - it's engaging, entertaining, and thought provoking. It's on the top of my list for the students I have who struggle to stay engaged in novels long enough to finish them.

Maniac Magee differs from the famous Forest Gump in that his life, rather than being like a box of chocolates is like an egg. When you find yourself in hot water you become pretty tough, but underneath your shell you also become a very well developed person who doesn't crack as easily. Consider reading this one, I personally find it to be a great read that not many people are aware of.

A good book! About a boy who doesn't care about colors. He is a friend to all...a kid that wants a good home. With his incredible running skills he can change towns! I really recommend this to all the boys in this crazy world. Enjoy! And don't be a Seahawks Hater...Spread the Seahawks colors and...VOTE FOR TRUMP! Make America Great Again!